| 65 mouth of the sheet metal cylinder in the foot, likewise two holes through which a pin can be passed through the column insert and sheet metal cylinder in the foot, giving additional stability. Height of the lower column shaft 38.7 cm. Weight 316 g. The lower part of the upper column shaft is constructed similarly to the lower one. Above the two holes for fixing to the lower column shaft an additional profiled, gilded collar. The column itself this time with vertical fluting. The top is again finished with a similar cuff and above it with a finely worked and well-proportioned Corinthian capital, which is also made of chased sheet metal parts. Above a rectangular plate with slightly retracted sides, in the centre of which is a narrow sheet metal cylinder with two holes, which serves to hold and fix the last part, the “goblet” with a stand for the oil lamp. Height of this segment 66.5 cm. Weight 650 g. The goblet at the bottomwith a stem that merges into a base profiled at the rim. The underside covered by a metal sheet with a central hole through which the metal cylinder on the Corinthian capital can be inserted. In the stem two holes, for securing the goblet with a pin. The body of the cup divided into two decorative zones. At the bottom, vertically running, curved tongues, strikingly chiselled at the borders. Above a gilded frieze with a wave tendril. In the wave valleys and peaks blossoms on branching tendrils. Finer tendrils and leaves fill the spaces in between. The upper platformwith a plate-like depression. The platformdivided into zones by rotary grooves, the outermost of which is decorated with floral incised decoration and circle punches on the outer rim. The wide horizontal rim bordered by two strong pearl circles, in the gilded band between them again a wavy vine with leaves and blossoms. A lesbian kymation on the vertically downward overhanging lip of the rim. Height 14.1 cm. Diameter 15.7 cm. Weight 389 g. The wavy tendrils on the rim and the upper decorative zone of the “vessel body” have exact counterparts in works of art of the Augustan age, such as the Ara Pacis in Rome, or other silverware of the same period, such as the Hildesheim treasure or the Boscoreale hoard. There is no doubt that the candelabrummay be regarded as a cleverly constructed and artistically representative masterpiece of the Augustan classicism. Comparable candelabrum forms made of bronze, although not as perfect and not dismountable to the same extent, come from Pompeii. The basic idea of a dismountable candelabrumwith a similar goblet and a capital can still be found in the middle of the 4th century in the treasure find from Kaiseraugst, but there it is clearly decorated with elements of late Antiquity. The height of the assembled candelabrum is 114.5 cm. The total weight is 3.58 kg. Of the original two loose, unattached pins for the final securing of the fixed individual parts, only one has survived. An analysis of the alloy based on three material samples by the Sensotec laboratory concludes that the composition of the alloymatches the known and documented values of contemporaneous silver objects. A spectacular object of perfect Roman craftsmanship, with dark, sometimes slightly spotty patina and isolated delicate incrustations. Apart fromaminor dent in the upper column shaft and slight wear to the gilding in almost perfect condition. Provenance: South German private collection, acquired from a German collection, family-owned there since the 1970s. 321087 I € 220.000
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